Deputies corral wayward elephant seal, guide back to beach

Sheriff’s deputies and wildlife experts in California had a large suspect in need of rescuing -- somehow an elephant seal found himself in a field alone, instead of on the beach with his seal friends.

It happened in San Luis Obispo Wednesday near San Simeon, the San Luis Obispo Tribune reported.

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Deputies first called the Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Marine Mammal Center for some help. They then the blocked Highway 1 to steer the young bull seal to the road, across the highway to reunite it with his colony, the Tribune reported. Officials used bright red inflatable rescue paddles to guide him home.

Credit: San Luis Obispo county Sheriff's Office/Facebook

Credit: San Luis Obispo county Sheriff's Office/Facebook

The rescue was posted to Facebook, where it has gone viral, according to the Tribune.

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